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7.31.2012

What better lip product to use for a statement, going-out lip than a product called Lip Flash, right?

I got two Milani Lip Flashes in the shades Flashy and In a Flash from Target for $6 each (I think?).

In a Flash (left) and Flash

In a Flash is a violet with violet shimmer, and Flash is a hot pink with pink shimmer. To say that they are simply shimmery would be a vast understatement; these are absolutely overloaded with shimmer, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you're looking for. Personally, I probably wouldn't reach for these on a day to day basis, but for the occasional fun lip on a night out, I'd definitely reach for one of these because they are pretty gorgeous.

They go on opaquely with just a few swipes across the lips, and while their lasting power isn't anything to write home about, the good thing is that the pigment and shimmer fade evenly without either settling into lip lines.

Wearing In a Flash

Wearing Flash

I know these two photos aren't really all that helpful is seeing how these colors look on my lips since they look almost identical due to the filter in the first photo and the lighting in the second, but I figured it was better than nothing.

I'd say that in real life, Flash looks the same on my lips as it does in the pencil, whereas In a Flash looks a bit darker and more violet on my lips than it does in the pencil.

In a Flash (left) and Flash

Overall, I would definitely recommend these because although they may not be incredibly versatile or wearable for daytime, they are affordable and super fun to have in your collection, ready to go when your nighttime makeup routine needs a bit of spicing up :)

7.26.2012

Due to my depressingly sparse, pin straight lashes, I'm always up for trying out a new mascara, and when that let's me down, false lashes never fail to make me feel glamorous on a night out. So when Too Faced released a new mascara duo, or "lash extension system," that claimed to be able to give me lashes that were "better than false lashes," I was both curious and eager to give it a try.

The Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Lash Extension System with Flexistretch Nylon Fibers includes two products - the first is an activating mascara and top coat (gold tube), and the second contains the nylon lash fibers (smaller, white tube).

The instructions include 3 steps where you first use the mascara as a base, then the nylon lash fibers on top of that before finishing off with a final coat of mascara.

Activating mascara and top coat (steps 1 & 3)

Nylon lash fibers (step 2)

The nylon lash fibers is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. It looks like cotton ball pieces wrapped around a lash spooly, and once you apply it, it literally feels like you have cotton ball residue stuck in your eyelashes :-/ Needless to say, it kind of creeps me out.

Below is how my lashes looked after a base coat of the mascara and a generous coat of the nylon lash fibers.

The following three photos show how my lashes looked after all 3 steps.

For me, this mascara duo does nothing for me. It does not volumize nearly enough, and the little curl that it provided me with was completely lost after half an hour. I will say, however, that it provides a fair amount of length, which I appreciate, and it does not smudge on me at all.

Overall, I don't think I would recommend this product as I feel it still needs quite a bit of work in order to truly be able to do even half of what it claims it can do. For a product that is only a good lengthening mascara at best, there are a lot of other, more affordable options out there.

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Lash Extension System with Flexistretch Nylon Fibersis available from Sephora for $35.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me free of charge for review purposes only. I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I getting paid for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and based solely on my own experience with the product.

I'm currently visiting home for two weeks before school starts back up again, and I decided to travel light for once, bringing only a carry-on with me on the plane, and as a result, I also downsized the amount of makeup I would normally take with me. I managed to fit all of my non-liquid makeup products in this little white, patent leather-like Shiseido bag.

For size comparison purposes, below is the makeup bag next to a small Z-palette.

"Forgotten products":(as in, I forgot to include them in their respective categories!)

L to R:

Anastasia Brow Pen in Universal Dark

NYX Eyebrow Marker in Deep (I alternate between the two brow pens in case one runs low on color while I'm using it)

NYX Blush in Taupe (for contour)

Burberry Eyeshadow in Midnight Brown

BareMinerals Well-Rested

Urban Decay Grindhouse Sharpener

And in true Tiffany fashion, even after gathering together the "forgotten products" shown in the last photo, I realized that I still forgot a couple of products: TFSI and my Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer decanted into a small pot.

I seriously thought I did so well with downsizing and travelling "light" in terms of beauty products, but after taking these pictures and writing this post, I've realized that I probably still packed too much. Oh well. You gotta start somewhere, right? ;)

7.08.2012

I'm a believer in bronzer year-around, but I typically reach for more matte bronzers in the colder months and bronzers with shimmer or sheen in the summer. My Dior Matte Bronzer in 002 Honey Matte (I think it's discontinued?) is still my holy grail bronzer, but now that it's finally starting to get warm where I live, I've started using bronzers like NARS Laguna more and Dior Honey Matte less.

Cue mascara smudged on eyelid shot!

My go-to bronzer brush up until about a week ago was the Sigma F50 Duo Fibre brush, a dupe of the MAC 187. I know a lot of people don't reach for duo fibres for bronzer, but I find that it gives the perfect, light dusting of powder on top of the skin that can almost never look packed on, simply because the brush hairs are so separated and sparse. I find that when I use it, it takes barely any blending at all and harsh lines are non-existent. However, last week, I picked up the Real Techniques Powder Brush and I'm really starting to like it as well!

The Real Techniques Powder Brush is bigger than the Sigma F50, and the brush hairs are much, much more densely packed. With this brush, it is possible to pack on too much bronzer onto the brush and as a result, feel like you're stamping the bronzer onto your cheek before having to blend it all out. However, although it is fairly dense, it isn't too dense, and blending is still quite easy to do.

Sigma F50 Duo Fibre (left) and Real Techniques Powder Brush

Sigma F50 Duo Fibre (left) and Real Techniques Powder Brush

I can't say for sure which I like better for bronzer, to be completely honest. I like both of them, but for different reasons. I reach for the Sigma F50 more when I want a quick and light, no-fuss bronzer application, and I reach for the Real Techniques brush more when I want a slightly heavier bronzer application.

The two bronzers I've been reaching for more lately now that it's summer are NARS Laguna and Tarte Park Avenue Princess, especially the Tarte.

NARS Laguna (left) and Tarte Park Avenue Princess

NARS Laguna (left) and Tarte Park Avenue Princess

Tarte Park Avenue Princess is like the more orangey cousin of NARS Laguna, and it also packs more sheen. Keep in mind, the swatch above is quite a heavy swatch, and if you use a brush like a duo fibre to apply it, it doesn't come out nearly as metallic or orangey on the skin!

Disclaimer: The Sigma brush was sent to me free of charge for review purposes only. I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I getting paid for featuring it on my blog. The opinions expressed in this post are honest and based solely on my own experience with the product(s).

I purchased the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm when I was home in California a few weeks ago, and the first thing I noticed about it was its striking resemblance in color to my Clarins Lip Perfector in #2. So off I went digging into my makeup bag before realizing that I was an idiot and didn't bring it with me...biggest travel makeup packing mistake ever! As soon as I got home, though, I tried out the combo immediately and honestly, these two products were made for each other.

Revlon Charm (left) and Clarins #2

Wearing Clarins #2 over Revlon Charm.

The two shades are pretty much identical, although the stain left behind by Charm tends to lean a bit darker and more corally...think a much more muted version of MAC Costa Chic lipstick. Both products are quite moisturizing on their own anyways, especially the lip perfector, but together, I find that the lip perfector helps to seal in the moisture (and the color) even longer. Love it!